Development of Cell Culture Systems from Selected Species of Fish and Prawns

The present work deals with the development of primary cell culture and diploid cell lines from two fishes, such as Poecilia reticulata and Clarias gariepinus. The greatest difficulty experienced was the avoidance of bacterial and fungi contamination. Three types of cell cultures are commonly developed, primary cell culture, diploid cell lines and heteroploid cell lines. Primary cell culture obtained from the animal tissues that have been cultivated in vitro for the first time. They are characterized by the same chromosome number as parent tissue, cultivated in vitro for the first time, have wide range of virus susceptibility, usually not malignant, six chromatin retarded and do not grow as suspension cultures. Diploid cell lines arise from a primary cell culture at the time of subculturing. Diploid cell lines commercially used in virology are W1-38 (human embryonic lung), W1-26 (human embryonic lung) and HEX (Human embryonic kidney). Heteroploid cell lines have been subcultivated with less than 75% of the cells in the population having a diploid chromosome constitution. Tissue cultures have been extensively used in biomedical research. The main applications are in three areas, Karyological studies, Identification and study of hereditary metabolic disorders and Somatic cell genetics. Other applications are in virology and host-parasite relationships. In this study an attempt was made to preserve the ovarian tissue at low temperature in the presence of cryoprotectants so that the tissue can be retrieved at any time and a cell culture could be developed.

Development of Time - Frequency Techniques for Sonar Applications

Sonar signal processing comprises of a large number of signal processing algorithms for implementing functions such as Target Detection, Localisation, Classification, Tracking and Parameter estimation. Current implementations of these functions rely on conventional techniques largely based on Fourier Techniques, primarily meant for stationary signals. Interestingly enough, the signals received by the sonar sensors are often non-stationary and hence processing methods capable of handling the non-stationarity will definitely fare better than Fourier transform based methods.Time-frequency methods(TFMs) are known as one of the best DSP tools for nonstationary signal processing, with which one can analyze signals in time and frequency domains simultaneously. But, other than STFT, TFMs have been largely limited to academic research because of the complexity of the algorithms and the limitations of computing power. With the availability of fast processors, many applications of TFMs have been reported in the fields of speech and image processing and biomedical applications, but not many in sonar processing. A structured effort, to fill these lacunae by exploring the potential of TFMs in sonar applications, is the net outcome of this thesis. To this end, four TFMs have been explored in detail viz. Wavelet Transform, Fractional Fourier Transfonn, Wigner Ville Distribution and Ambiguity Function and their potential in implementing five major sonar functions has been demonstrated with very promising results. What has been conclusively brought out in this thesis, is that there is no "one best TFM" for all applications, but there is "one best TFM" for each application. Accordingly, the TFM has to be adapted and tailored in many ways in order to develop specific algorithms for each of the applications.

Development of a New Transform:MRT

Fourier transform methods are employed heavily in digital signal processing. Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) is among the most commonly used digital signal transforms. The exponential kernel of the DFT has the properties of symmetry and periodicity. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) methods for fast DFT computation exploit these kernel properties in different ways. In this thesis, an approach of grouping data on the basis of the corresponding phase of the exponential kernel of the DFT is exploited to introduce a new digital signal transform, named the M-dimensional Real Transform (MRT), for l-D and 2-D signals. The new transform is developed using number theoretic principles as regards its specific features. A few properties of the transform are explored, and an inverse transform presented. A fundamental assumption is that the size of the input signal be even. The transform computation involves only real additions. The MRT is an integer-to-integer transform. There are two kinds of redundancy, complete redundancy & derived redundancy, in MRT. Redundancy is analyzed and removed to arrive at a more compact version called the Unique MRT (UMRT). l-D UMRT is a non-expansive transform for all signal sizes, while the 2-D UMRT is non-expansive for signal sizes that are powers of 2. The 2-D UMRT is applied in image processing applications like image compression and orientation analysis. The MRT & UMRT, being general transforms, will find potential applications in various fields of signal and image processing.

Development of Zero Water Exchange Shrimp Culture System Integrated With Bioremediation of Detritus and Ammonia- Nitrogen

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food sectors in the world. Amongst the various branches of aquaculture, shrimp culture has expanded rapidly across the globe because of its faster growth rate, short culture period, high export value and demand in the International market. Indian shrimp farming has experienced phenomenal development over the decades due to its excellent commercial viability. Farmers have adopted a number of innovative technologies to improve the production and to maximize the returns per unit area. The culture methods adopted can be classified in to extensive, modified extensive and semi intensive based on the management strategies adopted in terms of pond size, stocking density, feeding and environmental control. In all these systems water exchanges through the natural tidal effects, or pump fed either from creek or from estuaries is a common practice. In all the cases, the systems are prone to epizootics due to the pathogen introduction through the incoming water, either brought by vectors, reservoir hosts, infected tissue debris and free pathogens themselves. In this scenario, measures to prevent the introduction of pathogen have become a necessity to protect the crop from the onslaught of diseases as well as to prevent the discharge of waste water in to the culture environment.The present thesis deals with Standardization of bioremediation technology for zero water exchange shrimp culture system

Investigations On The Development Of An Ann Model & Visual Manipulation Approach For 2-D Dft Computation In Image Processing

This thesis is an outcome of the investigations carried out on the development of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model to implement 2-D DFT at high speed. A new definition of 2-D DFT relation is presented. This new definition enables DFT computation organized in stages involving only real addition except at the final stage of computation. The number of stages is always fixed at 4. Two different strategies are proposed. 1) A visual representation of 2-D DFT coefficients. 2) A neural network approach. The visual representation scheme can be used to compute, analyze and manipulate 2D signals such as images in the frequency domain in terms of symbols derived from 2x2 DFT. This, in turn, can be represented in terms of real data. This approach can help analyze signals in the frequency domain even without computing the DFT coefficients. A hierarchical neural network model is developed to implement 2-D DFT. Presently, this model is capable of implementing 2-D DFT for a particular order N such that ((N))4 = 2. The model can be developed into one that can implement the 2-D DFT for any order N upto a set maximum limited by the hardware constraints. The reported method shows a potential in implementing the 2-D DF T in hardware as a VLSI / ASIC

Development of CHH family recombinant hormones and RNAi for induced maturation of Penaeus monodon

About 80 years ago, the neurosecretory eyestalk structures and their role in endocrine regulation was recognized in crustaceans. After the recognition it took half a century to identify the first peptide hormone. Till date a large number of homologous peptides of crustacean hyperglycaemic hormone and moult-inhibiting hormone have been identified, consequently they are called the CHH family hormones. This family comprises of highly multifunctional peptides which according to sequences and precursor structures can be divided into two subfamilies, type-I (CHH/ITP) and II (MIH, MOIH, VIH/GIH) (Webster et al., 2012). The XO-SG complex has been the major site of the two subfamilies. The advent of molecular techniques resulted in the characterization of different precursors of CHH, MIH and GIH; these hormones consist of a signal peptide, but only the preprohormone of CHHs contain a precursor- related peptide (CPRP) located between the signal and the mature hormone (Weidemann et al., 1989; Klein et al., 1993b; De Kleijn and Van Herp, 1995). The essentialities of the gene structure comply with the functions of the CHH family hormones. The CHH family hormone functions are inhibitory as well as stimulatory in the process of reproduction and maturation

Towards the development of a new wavelet for ECG classification

In this paper an attempt has been made to determine the number of Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC) cycles accurately from a given Electrocardiogram (ECG) using a wavelet constructed from multiple Gaussian functions. It is difficult to assess the ECGs of patients who are continuously monitored over a long period of time. Hence the proposed method of classification will be helpful to doctors to determine the severity of PVC in a patient. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and a simple classifier have been used in addition to the specially developed wavelet transform. The proposed wavelet has been designed using multiple Gaussian functions which when summed up looks similar to that of a normal ECG. The number of Gaussians used depends on the number of peaks present in a normal ECG. The developed wavelet satisfied all the properties of a traditional continuous wavelet. The new wavelet was optimized using genetic algorithm (GA). ECG records from Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Beth Israel Hospital (MIT-BIH) database have been used for validation. Out of the 8694 ECG cycles used for evaluation, the classification algorithm responded with an accuracy of 97.77%. In order to compare the performance of the new wavelet, classification was also performed using the standard wavelets like morlet, meyer, bior3.9, db5, db3, sym3 and haar. The new wavelet outperforms the rest

Community Participation in Ecotourism: An Inclusive Development Option for Kerala

The inferences obtained from the study are presented in coherent area-specific levels so as to understand the ecotourism and its sub-sector areas for the researchers and policy makers about the issues, importances and potentialities of the sector. An analysis of the tourism sector in Kerala has shown tremendous growth both in terms of tourist arrivals and in terms of revenue generation from direct and indirect sources. The foreign tourist visitors in Kerala in 2014 was 9,23,336 which shows 7.60 percent increase from the last year and the domestic tourist visitors were 1,16,95,411 which again shows 7.71 percent increase, is a clear evidence of its potential. In 2014 the industry contributed revenue of 24885.44 crores from direct and indirect sources giving rise to an increase of 12.11 percent from the last year. A dichotomy of tourists and ecotourists shows that tourists in the ecotourism destinations come to 42.6 percent of the total, shows the scope, significance and its potential. Correlation of zone-wise tourist arrivals based on the ecotourism destinations highlights the fact that with only 19 of the 64 destinations that come in the central zone are the most preferred centres (around 54 percent) for the domestic as well as foreign tourists. The north zone encompassing 6 districts with rich biodiversity shows that the tourists‟ arrival patterns exhibit less promising results. Though the north zone has 31 ecotourism destinations of the state receives only 6.19 percent of the foreign visitors. The ecotourism activities in the state are primarily managed by the Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) and the Vana Samrakshana Samithies (VSS) under the Forest Development Agency of Kerala. Social class-wise categorization of membership shows that 13142 families have membership in 190 EDCs with SC (28 percent), ST (33 percent) and other marginalised communities (39 percent). But this in the VSS shows that 400 VSS have 59085 members actively engaged in ecotourism activities and social category of the VSS makes clear that majority are from the other marginalized fringe households with 62 percent where as the participation of SC is 12 percent and ST is 26 percent. An evaluation of the socio-economic and demographic matrix of the community members involved in ecotourism activities brings out region specific differences. About 75.70 percent of the respondents are males and the rest are females. Majority of the respondents (about 60 percent) are in the age group of 20 to 40 years, followed by the age group of 40-50 (20 percent). The average age of respondents in the three zones is between 35 and 37 years. The majority of the respondents are married, a few are unmarried. Average family size is 4-5 members and differences are identified among zones. Average number of adults per household is 3 and child per household is 2. Majority have an education of 10th class and below i.e. about 60 percent of the sample have only basic school education like primary, secondary and high school (i.e. up to SSLC but not passed) level. About 18 percent are SSLC passed, 10 percent are undergraduates whereas 6 percent constitute respondents having qualification of graduation and above. Majority of the „graduates and above‟ are from south and central zone. Inter-zone differences in educational profile are also identified with lesser number of „graduates and above‟ are identified in the north zone compared to the other two zones. Investigating into the income and livelihood options of the respondents gives insight about the prominence of ecotourism as an employment and livelihood option for the community members, as more than 90 percent of the respondents have cited tourism sector as their main employment option. Most (49.30 percent) of respondents get 100 percent income from tourism related activities, followed by 37.30 percent of community members have income between 75-99 percent from tourism whereas the rest (13 percent) have less than 74 percent of their income from tourism and there exists difference between zones and percentage of income. Financial habit shows that about 49.7 percent hold active bank accounts, 61 percent have savings behaviour and 73.8 percent have indebtedness. Analysis about the ownership of house brings to light that 37 percent of respondents live in their own house followed by 25.7 percent in government funded/provided house and 21 percent in their parent‟s house and 3.5 percent in rented house. About 12 percent of the respondents have other kinds of accommodation facilities such as staff quarters, etc. But in the case of north zone majority i.e. 52 percent primarily depend on the government funded house indicating the effectiveness of government housing programme. Standard of living measured in SLI frameworks shows that majority of the respondents have medium SLI values (42.3 percent); the remaining 47.7 percent have low SLI and 10 percent have high SLI. The community members have been benefitted immensely from forest and its resources. Since the ecotourism destinations are located amidst the wildlife settings, majority of them depend on forest for their livelihood. The information on the tourist‟s demographic characteristics like age, sex, educational qualification and annual income show that the age category of domestic and foreign tourists falls below the age group of less than 35 years (about 65 percent), whereas only 16 percent of tourists are aged above 46 years. The age group below 25 years consists of more international tourists (31.3 percent) compared to the proportion of domestic tourists (12.5 percent). Male-female ratio shows that the males constitute 56 percent of the sample and females with 44 percent. The factors determining the impact of ecotourism programmes in the community was evaluated with the aid of a factor analysis with 12 selected statements. The worries and concerns of the community members about the impact of ecotourism on the environment are well understood from this analysis. It can be drawn that environment protection and the role of ecotourism in improving the income and livelihood options of the local communities is the most important factor concerning the community members.

Design and Development of Spectral Signature Based Chipless RFID Tags

The main objective of this thesis is to design and develop spectral signature based chipless RFID tags Multiresonators are essential component of spectral signature based chipless tags. To enhance the data coding capacity in spectral signature based tags require large number of resonances in a limited bandwidth. The frequency of the resonators have to be close to each other. To achieve this condition, the quality factor of each resonance needs to be high. The thesis discusses about various types of multiresonators, their practical implementation and how they can be used in design. Encoding of data into spectral domain is another challenge in chipless tag design. Here, the technique used is the presence or absence encoding technique. The presence of a resonance is used to encode Logic 1 and absence of a speci c resonance is used to encode Logic 0. Di erent types of multiresonators such as open stub multiresonators, coupled bunch hairpin resonators and shorted slot ground ring resonator are proposed in this thesis.